*NIA Chargesheets Shabir Shah, 5 Other Senior Hurriyat Leaders In 1996 Srinagar Violence Case*
Srinagar, July 10 (GNS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted six senior leaders of the separatist Hurriyat Conference in connection with a 1996 case of mob violence and firing on police personnel in Srinagar.
In a handout to GNS, the NIA said that the chargesheet was filed on Friday before the NIA Special Court, Jammu. Those named are Kashmiri separatist leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone, Mohd. Yaqoob Wakeel @ Mohd. Yaqoob Vakil, Javid Ahmad Mir, and Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi.
All six have been charged under relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code, 1989, for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, rioting and assault on public servants, along with Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Officials said charges against Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdul Ganie Lone and Mohd. Yaqoob Wakeel stand abated as they had passed away during the pendency of the proceedings. However, the chargesheet has established their roles in the criminal conspiracy and the common object of the unlawful assembly, along with supporting evidence.
According to NIA, the accused had led an unlawful assembly and instigated large-scale violence against police personnel during the funeral procession of slain terrorist Hilal Ahmad Beigh at Naaz Crossing, Srinagar, on 17th July 1996.
The agency said armed terrorists blended in with the procession, which was jointly led by the Hurriyat leaders, and fired indiscriminately at police personnel. Several police officials were injured and government vehicles were extensively damaged in heavy stone pelting.
As per NIA’s findings in case RC-01/2026/NIA/JMU, the chargesheeted Hurriyat leaders had actively incited the violence by raising anti-India, pro-Pakistan and secessionist slogans, and delivered inflammatory speeches advocating armed struggle.
“Meticulous investigation clearly established that the mob violence was part of a larger, pre-planned criminal conspiracy of the Hurriyat leadership to use the funeral procession as a platform for propagating separatist ideology, mobilising public support against the Government of India, provoking public disorder, and inciting violence against law enforcement agencies,” NIA stated.
An FIR was initially registered at Police Station Shergarhi, Srinagar, on the day of the violence. NIA took over the case in April 2026 on the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Investigation in the case is continuing, reads the statement.(GNS)
